East And West Must Help Each Other

Chronicle (Levin), 1 September 1948, Page 5

East And West Must Help Each Other

Received Tuesday, 7 p.m. GENEYA, August 31. Trade between East and West Europe must increase to nearly live tinies the present level l'or Eurojpe to gain indepejidence of United States aid by 1952, says the United Nations' Economic Cominission for Europe in a 10,000word snrvey. 'c If the Marshal], plan is to. succeed," Western Europe must import at least. £750,000,000 wortli of food and raxs materials yearly from Eastern Europe, compared with £175,000,000 in 1947, says the report. Those imports must be paid for in macliinery and other capital goods needed by Eastern Europe and must be baeked by short and long term credits. Tlie report was drawn up 011 the unanimous decision of all 27 nations of the commission, including the Soviet, Britain and United States. It inade concrete proposals to break down trade barriers between East and West Europe. These proposals eontained detailed suggestions for Western cooperation in developing, on a short term basis, Eastern Europe 's agricultural, timber, eoal and other raw material output. and 011 a longer view, her transport, output of eleetrie power and steel, and a better utilisation of

the full resourees of the Danube basm. These increases in Eastern European efficiency provided Western Europe 's only hope of becoming inde]iendent of exfraordinary aid from the United States. The report added that West European cooperation should - take the form of, firstly, trading arrangements to produce maximuni imports into Eastern Europe from the more advanced countries, both as regards equipmeht' and technical intoriiiatioh, incjuding perliaps the assistauce of skilled technicians; and, seeondly, the provision of credits. The report referred only indirectly to the Soviet and made only one qr twc technical suggestions for increased Russian trade writh Europe. The report said the erisis faeing West Europe, arising from a liuge trade delicit, could onlv.lie overcome without a sliarp fall iu living standards, if Europe Ls industrial production increased far above prewar levels and nondollar sources were found for a large part of the imports. East Europe 's maia problem was to increase its capital , equipment and industrial techniques. The population pressure in most East European countries rendereu acute the need for a greater utilisation of resourees. Excess f'arm populations were, ajready causiug the land resourees to deteriorate.